An appeal to raise money for a headstone to honour a Burbage soldier has generated more than £1,500 in a fortnight.

Burbage Heritage Group, which is spearheading the drive to put a memorial on the currently unmarked grave of Sharrad Gilbert, needs £4,500 to go ahead with its plans.

The idea is to construct a cairn-like memorial bearing testament to Sharrad’s 35 year military service in the Leicestershire Regiment as well as his writings about his war experiences which appeared in The Hinckley Times and Bosworth Guardian and were later compiled as a book.

Born in Earl Shilton in 1868, Sharrad died in Burbage in 1961.

It is believed that some of his memorabilia may have been lost in a bonfire before his house was sold, following his death.

His war medals, due to be auctioned 2014, were withheld from sale and their whereabouts are now unknown.

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“Here is a man who volunteered and put himself in harm’s way to protect his country’s interests.

“He did not have to go to the Boer War but alongside other men from Hinckley he heeded the call.

“The fact that his book about his experiences is still in print is a testament to the way he depicted his war.

“I know from what people have said to me that putting right the injustice of an unmarked grave is something which a large number of people have seen as important.

“We hope that lots more people will think this way and contribute to this appeal.”

As well as donations for the memorial fund, people across the borough who knew Mr Gilbert have been sharing their memories.

The house where he lived in Burbage was recently demolished to make way for a new housing development on Britannia Road, but people have spoken of its well tended garden, reminiscent of a Chinese willow pattern, and have described the man himself as something of an eccentric, often to be seen wearing a short opera cape and fedora hat.

Appeal leaflets are available from Hinckley Library and outlets in Burbage.